Adjustable chair seat



Feb. 20, 1962 R. G. STALLARD 3,022,037

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR SEAT Filed Nov. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/CL/ 27 LT/Z 25 I 26 f M i if V6 /7 INVENTOR E. 6. 57A (.LAED

W ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 20, 1962 R. G. STALLARD 3,

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR SEAT Filed Nov. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r k INVENTOR Z9 30 ,ejr/umeo BY WM.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,022,037 Patented Feb. 20, 1962 3,022,037 ADJUSTABLE CHAIR SEAT Ross G. Stallard, 812 Humboldt St., Vallejo, Calif. Filed Nov. 4, 1959, Ser- No. 850,967 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-421) This invention relates to an adjustable chair seat, and more particularly to such a seat which rests on the body frame of a chair, which is adapted to be raised and lowered vertically.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an auxiliary adjustable chair seat which may be readily attached to chair frames of any desired height, and of varying widths, to raise the effective height of the seat when desired, as for example for a childs use.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a device which may be raised to selected heights with a minimum ofetfort and difliculty.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device which will securely hold its adjusted position without disengagement of the securing elements, such as might otherwise be occasioned by an active child in sitting on the seat.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a device wherein the securing means may only be released by raising up the front of the auxiliary seat or raising up the entire seat and holding the front up slightly, causing the seat to pivot at rear pivot point. Then seat may be lowered while holding in that canted position.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of an-improved ratchet member wherein slots are provided at an angle and depth which will prevent accidental disengagement of the seat upon the application of pressure on the front, back, or-either side thereof.

Still another object of-the invention is the provision of such a device which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and utilize.

A further specific object of the invention is the provision of an adjustable chair seat of this character which may, when not in use, be folded into a relatively compact space, so as to be readily transportable and storable.

Still other objects will in part be obvious, and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proends, the lugs extending toward each other. A seat member 13, of any desired conventional type, is adapted to be secured to the lugs 12 by. means of bolts or the like.

Each of the members 11 is provided adjacent its forward end with an elongated slot 14, within which is slidably mounted a pivot 15, upon which is mounted a cross bar 16. The cross bar 16 is pivoted at its lower end, as by means of a pivot 17, to an elongated frame member 18, which extends in parallel relation to the frame member 11. It is to be noted that cross bars 16 and frame members 18 are provided on each side of the device, and

since they are substantially identical in configuration only ceeds, and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of adjustable seat embodying elements of the instant invention applied to a conventional chair frame;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the device of FIGURE 1, portions of the chair frame being indicated in dotted lines;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the construction of FIGURE 2 shown in collapsed or storage position, and disassociated from the chair frame;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the construction of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIGURE 4, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a constructional detail.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings, the adjustable chair seat of the instant invention, generally indicated at 10, includes a pair of parallel side bars 11, each of which is provided with apertured lugs 12 at its opposite one side of the device will be described.

Each of the cross bars 16 is provided at its upper extremity with an integral inwardly turned member 20,

each member 20 being provided with a slot 21, and a pair of bolts 22 are extended through the overlapping and confronting slots 21 so that the members 16, and consequently the associated pivoted members 17 may be spaced from each other to a desired extent, for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

Pivotally secured to an intermediate point of each cross bar 16 is a second cross bar 25, the pivot taking the form of a bolt 26, or the like. At its upper end each cross bar 25 is pivotally secured, as by means of a pivot 27, to the rear end of each frame piece 11. The lower end of each cross bar 25 is provided with a pawl 28, which is adapted to engage in a selected notch 29, 30 or 31 which extend downwardly from an operating slot 32, in each of frame members 18. The forward notch 29 is provided with a pair of oppositely sloped side walls 33,

since it is adapted to be engaged by the pawls 28 onlywhen the seat is infolded or inoperative position, as shown in FIGURE 3. The other two notches 30 and 31 are both inclined forwardly, as best shown in FIGURE 6, the arrangement being such that the pin or pawl 28, when engaged in one of the notches 30 or 31 may only be released by raising up the front of the auxiliary seat 13 or raising up the entire seat and holding the front up slightly, causing the seat to pivot at the rear pivot point. The seat may then be lowered while held in canted position. The pawl 28 may be threaded at its inner end, to receive a nut 34, which holds in position a collar or washer 35, positively to preclude disengagement of the pawl 23 from its associated slot 32 and/or the notches 29, 30 and 31.

The connection of cross bars 16 by members 20 is very important. Without this the seat will hike up, one side at a time engaging one notch and the other side a different notch, causing the seat to tilt and bind. By being connected both sides raise and lower in parallel raising both sides the same distance, causing the pawls to engage exact opposite slots.

From the above arrangement it will be readily understood that when the adjustable seat is positioned on a chair frame, in a manner to be described more fully here inafter, that the associated parts may be readily adjusted by positioning the pawls in either of the opposed notches 30 or 31 in the lower members 18, the slot 14 permitting corresponding adjustment of the position of the pins 15. Similarly, when the parts are in the position shown in FIGURE 3 it will be seen that the device may be compactly folded for storage or shipping. Slots 36 are provided in the upper portion of frame members or bars 18 for the reception of pivots 26 when the device is in folded position.

Means are provided for securing the adjustable seat to the side frame members of a chair C, as shown in FIGURE 1, and take the form of oppositely disposed hook members 40, one being provided at each side of the front and rear of each frame member 18. The hooks 40 include arcuate end portions 41, which are adapted 7 different sizes of chair frames.

to engage over the side frame members F of the chair, which may be of tubular construction as illustrated, or of any other desired conventional type. The inner ends of the hook shaped members 40 are disposed at right angles tothe 'bight 42 thereof, as indicated at 43, and are secured to the ends of rods 44 which extend inwardly in opposite directions through suitable apertures in the forward and rear ends of frame members 18. The inner ends of the rods 44 are oppositely threaded, and are engaged in the upturned ends 45 of a U-shaped member 46, being secured therein by means of nuts 47. Obvious? 1y, by suitable adjustment of the nuts 47 the efiective spacing of the hooks 42 may be effected to accommodate Similarly, the engagement of bolts 22 in the slots 21 of members 20 permits adjustment of the top frame members 11 and their associated elements to accommodate various widths of seats.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved adjustable and collapsible chair arrangement which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be inter,- preted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 7

In an adjustable seat for chairs, the combination of spaced parallel upper frame members having elongated slots in the forward ends thereof, a seat releasably secured to said upper frame members, a pair of spaced parallel lower frame members, a pair of first cross bars each having its upper end pivotally mounted in the elongated slot in an upper frame member, a pivot connecting the lower end of each first cross bar to the rear end of a lower frame member, a pair of second cross bars, each pivotally connected at substantially its midpoint, to substantially the mid-point of a first cross bar, a pivot connecting the upper end of each second cross bar to the rear end of an upper frame member, a pin comprising a pawl in the lower end of each of said second cross 5 bars, each lower frame member having an elongated slot therein and a plurality of rearwardly inclined notches opening from the lower end of said last mentioned elongated slot, one of said pawls slidably engaging in each of said last mentioned slots and being adapted selectively to engage in a rearwardly inclined notch for varying the relative spacing of said upper and lower cross members relative to each other, said notches forming a ratchet, and means carried by said lower frame member for securing said seat to a chair frame, said last mentioned means including oppositely threaded pairs of opposed rods extending through aligned apertures in the front' and rear ends of each lower frame member, tum-buckle means connecting the inner ends of each pair of rods, chair engaging hook members on the outer end of each rod, whereby the frame may be adapted to chairs of various sizes, and

means for varying the distance apart of said upper frame members, said last mentioned means comprising right angled inwardly extending overlapping portions on the upper end of each first cross arm, each said portion having an elongated slot in the overlapped portion thereof,

said slots being aligned, and bolts extended through said aligned slots. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent 

